Ranchi: The Kharswan assembly bypoll on Thursday
would decide the political future of Jharkhand Chief Minister
Arjun Munda and the fate of the state government.
At Kharswan Munda is locked in a tough fight with former
chief minister Babulal Marandi`s Jharkhand Vikash Morcha
(Prajatantric) candidate Dasrath Gagrai supported by the
Congress.
Marandi left no stone unturned during his campaign for his
party candidate to defeat Munda to try a Tamar bypoll repeat
of January 8, 2009 which saw Jharkhand coming under
President`s rule following then chief minister Shibu Soren`s
defeat to Gopal Krishan Patar by over 9000 votes.
"February 17 (counting of votes for Kharswan bypoll) will
be the last day for this government. The people will vote for
our candidate. Despite winning three times, he (Munda) did not
do anything for the people, who are afraid of losing their
land to industrialization and also are deprived of basic
facilities", claimed Marandi during his campaign meetings.
Matching word for word and issue for issue to woo voters,
Munda had said during his meetings "I am confident, you (the
people of Kharsawan) want a person from your constituency to
continue to rule the state.
"Raking up Chotto Nagpur Tenancy (CNT) Act by the
opposition is a part of political conspiracy as there is no
change in the ACT", Munda said while he reassured the
electorate that there was no change to the act, which protects
tribal land from sale/purchase.
Munda, who took oath on September 11 last year, has to
win the elections to continue as the chief minister.
The results will be announced on February 17.
PTI
